Current motor



E. S. HICKS. CURRENT MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29, 1919. 1,423,?17.

RENEWED FEB.H,1922.

Patented July 25 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

INVENTOR Key iggin Y ATTORNEYS E. S. HICKS.

CURRENTMOTOR. APPLICATION FI LED MAR. 29 1919- RENEWED FEB. H, 1922.

1 A2 3,? l 7, Patented y 25, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

mass STANLEY HICKS, or YAKIMA, wAsHIivs'roN.

conunnr Mos s.

Specification of Letter sfatent.

Patented July as, 1922.

Application filed March as, 1919, Serial in. 285,370. Renewed February11, 1922. Serial No. 535,946.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELIAS STANLEY HIoKs,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Yakima, in the county ofYakima and State or lVashington, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Current Motors, of which the iollowing is aspecification,

This invention has reference to that class of current motors in which isembodied a current wheel adapted to be'submerged in a river, brook,artificial water tall or other body of water in which there is a swiftcurrent and which is more especially useful at places where thepropulsive power of a moving body of water could not otherwise beeconomically utilized.

Among objects to be hereinafter explained, my present invention seeks toprovide "a current wheel of a simple and economical construction, thatcan be readily put up without the aid of skilled labor or specialmachinery and the parts adapted for being cooperatively so combinedthat, when put in operative condition, they effectively serve for theirintended purposes and are not readily disarranged or put out of theiroperative condition by debris floating with the current.

In its more specific nature, my present invention contemplates certainimprovements in the construction of the current or water wheel disclosedin my Patent No. 1,071,918, dated September 2, 1913.

In my aforesaid patent, wings or paddle members are included, whoseconstruction is such whereby to concentrate the force of the waterflowing against them for acquiring a maximum impelling power or thecurrent and, at the same time, causing the current of water tocontinuously flow to and pass the outenedges of the wings or paddles insuch manner that the current is held within its natural course, as wellas overcoming the tendency of the water flow racing toward the centralor axial point of the wheel and to thereby overcome formation of eddiesor back pressure against the said wings or paddles.

Primarily, my present invention seeks to so improve the generalconstruction of my patented current wheel stated, as to materiallyincrease the efficiency thereof, produce a more suitable arrangement ofthe wing and paddle connection and in which the said wings or paddlesare so designed as to practically eliminate all resistance whilerevolving through the water.

Another and essential object of my present invention is the provisionfor allowing a larger flow of water between the paddles or blades andfurnishing -more leverage on the shaft, whereby the paddle portion ofthe blade or wing, as it reaches the position for receiving the fullimpact force of the current, is entirely below the horizontal line ofthe shaft, therebyproviding torque and effect to the shaft whilerevolved under the force of the currentengagi'ng the submerged wings orpaddles.

Again, my present invention provides for so supporting the wings orpaddles, that the arms to which the wings or paddles are attached, maybe made wider and more firmly secured to the central support or spoke,to

thereby permit the using of lighter material in the construction of thepaddle than is possible in my patented construction of current wheelreferred to.

With still further objects in view andherein'after apparent, myinvention consists in the peculiar construction and novel arrangement ofparts which will be first explained in detail, specifically pointed outin the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1 is an end elevation of two paddle wheel units mounted on apower transmission shaft and constructed in accordance with my presentinvention. 7

Figure 2 is a plan View of one of the current wheel units mounted on thepower transmission shaft.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the central support or spoke framethat carries the wings or paddles.

Figure 41s a diagrammatic detail view that illustrates the manner inwhich the paddle carrying arms or spokes are mounted and its positionfor offering least resistance tothe current.

Figure 5 is a face View of one of my im proved constructions of paddle.

Figures 6 and are cross sections thereof taken on the line 6'-6 and7'-7, respectively on Figure 5.

ioe

Figure 8 illustrates a somewhat modified arrangement of my invention andhereinafter again referred to.

In the practical application of my present invention, like in mypatented current motor construction before referred to, as many of thecurrent wheel units may be mounted on a common or power transmittingshaft 1. as conditions of the current into which the wheels are to bemounted and the character of the mechanism to be driven may makeclesirable.

In the installation of my improved current wheel, the same may be set upas illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawing in my patent before mentioned.

In my present showing, Figure 2 of the drawings illustrates a portion ofthe power shaft 1 mounted in a bearing 2 and carrying a transmissionpulley 45 and equipped with one of my improved current wheel units.

Figure 1 shows two of said current wheel units in end elevation, each oflike construction, one of said units being mounted on the shaftrelatively at right angles to the mounting of the other wheel unit, inthe same manner and for the same purposes as the wheel units are mountedon the shaft 1 in my patented construction.

My present invention is embodied in the wheel structure and the sameincludes a central support or hub 1 which is fixedly attached to theshaft 1 and from which oxtends a pair of oppositely projecting spokes 55which are preferably formed integral. with the hub 1, as shown.

Referring now more particularly to F igures 1 and 8 of the drawings, itwill be ob served that the outer end of each spoke 5 terminates in aninclined bearing member 6. The bearing member 6 on the said two spokes55 extend laterally and in opposite directions from their respectivespokes and each of the said bearing members 6 is inclined at an obtuseangle to the shaft 1.

To each of the inclined spoke members 66 is bolted a forked angledbracket 7, the forked bearing faces of which are inclined in a planeparallel wit-h the inclination of their respective members 6-6 to whichthey are riveted, as shown. 1

88 designate arms of suitable metal, one of which is secured at one endto each forked bracket .7, the said arms 8 being of some width toprovide a wide bearing surface for attaching to their respective wingsor paddles, the detailed construction of which is best shown in Figures1, 5, 6 and. 7.

The wide bearing arms provide for using relatively light sheet metal forthe paddles, presently described.

In my present construction, the blades or paddles are inclined atapproximately right angles to each other, as is best shown in Figure 2and each of the blades or paddles comprises a body that includes a flatimpacting face 16 of a shape best shown in Figure 5, by reference towhich it will be noticed that the face 16 has one straight edge 10, apair of opposite parallel edges 11 and 12 and a pair of edges 13 and14:, the latter tapering to a point, whereby to constitute a V-shapedportion.

Each blade or paddlealong the edges 12 and 14 has integral extensionsthat are bent up at obtuse angles to the flat or impacting face 16 andconstitute flanges 15 and 17, one of which 15, in my present form ofwheel, constitutes a supplemental surface for receiving the impact ofthe current flow and the other 17 serves as a combined impacting faceand deflector for directing the current flow, after striking the faces15, 16 and 17, toward and beyond the rear edge of the wheel back intothe longitudinal plane of the shaft 1, thereby avoiding undue side forceor strain of the current flow against the said shaft. 7

Forming the blade or paddle in the manner stated and shown, provides awide clearance space between the adjacent inner edges 10-10 of the wateror main impact receiv: ing face 16, such clearance being furtheraugmented, in my present construction, by reason of the said edgesbeing, at all times, as the wheel. is revolved through the water, at anobtuse angle to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 1 instead of. in aplane parallel to such shaft, as is the case in my patentedwheelstructure before referred to.

The flange 17 of each paddle constitutes a water penetrating member andthe said member is disposed at an obtuse angle with respect to the shaft1, as shown.

The blades or paddles being mounted at obtuse angles to the shaft 1 andthe two opposite blades set or inclined at relatively right angles toeach other, as before stated and shown in the drawings, it follows that,when the paddles are set in the current with their fiat portions 16facing the incoming stream, the current flow engages the said portion 16and, owing to the angle set of the blade relatively to the shaft 1, thecurrent, as it impacts the face 16, is continuously deflected under animpacting force against the flanges 15 and 17 and caused to flow overthe outer edges, thereby effecting a second thrust action on the paddle,as the current strikes the flanges in passing along them and over theouter edges, back into the direct line of current, it being understoodthat the direction of the current is but slightly changed as it ismomentarily retarded by impact with the paddle, particularly since amplespace is provided between the paddles and the central support and theshaft, owing to the triangular shaped end and the angular positions ofthe paddles.

Owing to the relative inclination of the rent wheel unit, it is apparentpair of paddles that constitute a single curtha since the uppermost oneof the pair of paddles inclines in the direction of the current flow andthe other or lower one of the said pair of paddles inclines toward theincoming cur rent, the latter paddle receives the maximum impact forceof the current, while the other paddle is being lifted, and therebyeffects a continuous rotation of the wheel and the shaft l in onedirection.

The important advantage in constructing the paddles, as before statedand illustrated in my present drawings, is that, while turning, thepaddles cut through the water in such manner that frictional resistanceof the paddles during such rotation through the water, is reduced to theminimum.

Again, in my present construction of cur rent wheel, since the flangesl5 and 1! are bent up, at obtuse angles, to the impacting face 16, seeFigures 5, 6 and 7, the said flanges or rim members gather in thecurrent and the latter coming in contact with the outer edge of theplane face, causes more pressure to bear at this point, by reason of thecurrent, in striking the fluid impacting surface, rushing to the saidouter edge. Thus, as the currents of water impound on the paddles at thepoints stated, they cause a greater leverage and consequent pressure toturn the paddles, than is incident in the use of my patentedconstruction of current wheel before mentioned.

A still further advantage in the practical operation of my improvedconstruction of current wheel, is that portion or point of the downgoing paddle which receives the greatest impact thrust of the currentflowing against it, is entirely below the horizontal plane of the shaft1; see for example as indicated by the dash lines a. and Z) on Figure 1,thereby insuring a continuous and uniform available leverage power,while the wheel is turning.

In my present invention, the paddle has a greatly increased impactingsurface at the foremost or penetrating end and thereby gathers in morecurrent than is possible in my patented form of wheel, the triangularshape of the outlet end of the said paddle and the angular position ofthe paddle and the shaft providing for a free flow of the current, whilelifting the paddles.

While my invention is more particularly designed for use as a currentwheel, the same may be, with but slight modifications in the mounting ofand the shape of the paddles. see Figure 8, be readily utilized for windpower or undershot water wheel power.

In my present construction of current wheel, the peculiar shape and setof the paddles provides for practically eliminating the creation ofeddies or back pressure on the paddles, since the space between theopposing pair of paddles and around the shafts and the paddle supports,is ample to overcome any danger of the fluid flowing freely I'Gt'XX-BSD.the paddles and around the shaft and the said supports.

The shaft power developed may be readily transmitted from the beltpulley 4-5.

lVhat I claim is:

1. A. current motor comprising a shaft adapted to be projected in thedirection of the current, a pair of paddles transversely mounted withrespect to the shaft, a pair of supporting spokes or members fixedlyattached to and projected radially from the shaft, the outer end of eachsupporting spoke including a bearing face disposed at an obtuse angle ina direction transverse to the shaft to the flow of the current, one ofthe aforesaid paddles being attached to-each of the said bearing faces,the bearing face for one paddle being inclined at right angles in thesame direction to the bearing face for the other paddle.

2. A current motor comprising a shaft adapted to be projected in thedirection of the current, a pair of paddles transversely mounted withrespect to the shaft, a pair of supporting spokes or members fixedlyattached to and projected radially from the shaft, a bracket memberattached to the outer end of each supporting spoke, said members eachincluding a bearing face disposed at an obtuse angle in a directiontransverse to the shaft to the flow of the current, one of the saidpaddles being attached to each of the said faces, the bearing face forone paddle being inclined at right angles in the same direction to thebearing face for the other paddle.

3. A current motor comprising a shaft adapted to be projected in thedirection of the current, a pair of paddles transversely mounted withrespect to the shaft, a pair of supporting spokes or members fixedlyattached to and projected radially from the shaft, the outer end of eachsupporting spoke including a bearing face disposed at an obtuse angle ina direction transverse to the shaft to the flow of the current, one ofsaid paddles being attached to each of the said bearing faces, thebearing face for one paddle being inclined at rightangles in the samedirection to the bearing face for the other paddle, each of said paddlesincluding a flat impacting surface, and flanges at the outer edges thatextend forwardly at obtuse angles to the flat impacting surface, theinnermost or opposing edges of the pair of paddles and the body of thepaddles being positioned at an obtuse angle to lines parallel to theshaft.

4-. A. current motor comprising a shaft adapted to be projected in thedirection of the current, a pair of paddles transversely mounted withrespect to the shaft, a pair of supporting spokes or members fixedly attached to and projected radially from the shaft, the outer end of eachsupporting spoke including a bearing face disposed at an obtuse angle ina direction transverse to the shaft to the flow of the current, one ofthe aforesaid paddles being attached to each of the said bearing faces,the bearing face for one paddle being inclined at right angles in thesame direction to the bearing face for the other paddle, each of saidpaddles including a flat impacting surface, and flanges at the outeredges that extend forwardly at obtuse angles to the flat inipactingsurface, the flat impacting surface of the said paddles including arearwardly extended \/'-shaped portion.

5. A current motor comprising a shaft adapted to be projected in thedirection of the current a pair of oppositely disposed spokes radiallyprojected from and fixedly mounted on the shaft, a paddle mounted'on theouter end of each spoke, the said paddles being inclined at right anglesin a direction transverse to the shaft to each other and each disposedat an obtuse angle in that direction to the flow of the current, each ofthe said paddles including a flat surface that receives the impact ofthe current and Which is constantly projected ahead of the shaft in thedirection of rotation hile turning through the Water, and a forwardlyprojected flange along the outer edge of the said flat surface, the saidflange being projected at an obtuse angle from the said flat surface.

E. STANLEY HICKS.

